Joel Maturi: "I believe" I'll make a decision on Mbakwe by Nov. 5

What's up, everyone?

We're a few days away from the Minnesota men's basketball season kickoff, also known as Tubby's Tipoff. Friday should be fun.

The biggest question entering the season: Will Trevor Mbakwe be allowed to play prior to his December trial for a felony assault charge stemming from an alleged incident in April?

Maturi, recovering from major surgery, said Tuesday that he'll make a decision about Mbakwe prior to the team's first exhibition game Nov. 5 against Minnesota-Duluth. After clearing Mbakwe to practice in September, he said he'd rule prior to the team's first game, a Nov. 13 matchup against Tennessee Tech.

I can't call it, folks. I don't if Maturi's going to let Mbakwe play or if he's going to make him sit. Mbakwe is allowed to participate in Tubby's Tipoff.

"I do believe I will make a decision prior to the UMD game," Maturi said.

Some close to the program think he'll be allowed to suit up at the start of the season. Others think Maturi will make him wait until after his December trial, assuming he's found innocent.

But recent documents suggest that he's still shooting for December. Samms has requested financial assistance from the court so that Mbakwe can fly in four witnesses who he says will validate his alibi that he wasn't at the scene when the alleged assault occurred.

Maturi told me recently that he's going to factor in Mbakwe's behavior in his first few months at Minnesota. Everything I've heard about him suggests he's fared well in practice and the classroom.